More Indian road chaos on UK television - Horizons Unlimited

**mark manley** · #1 22 Oct 2011

Last night saw the first in the series of ice road truckers-deadliest roads on channel 5. I did watch it despite not being a fan of the original programme which I find overdramatic but this being in India there was no need for that as there is plenty of real drama going on all around them. Whilst it is not really a travel programme it does give some sort of insight into what to expect when motoring in India, I have just bought a ticket to Mumbai to start a three month cycling tour and am now wondering what I have done

**maja** · #2 24 Oct 2011

Hi Mark, I ended my last (final) long distance Cycle trip in 2004 with 3 months cycling around southern India. Some words of advice:
1. All other road users are out to kill you.
2. They really are.
3. Be prepared to bail out into the ditch, any ditch, at any time.
4. When you stop cover the bars and all clicky bits with a cloth. Most Indians will not steal but when they see your star ship, compared to their clunkers, they must fiddle. What they cannot see they will not fiddle with. This includes when leaving it under the eagle eye of a security guard who will fight to the death to stop your bike being stolen but cannot stop playing with clicky levers.
5. All other road users are out to kill you.

The place and the people are magic, really magic but ignore 1. 2. 3. and 5 at your peril. Ride safe, enjoy your trip.

**mark manley** · #3 24 Oct 2011

Thanks for the advice Maja, I did spend 6 month travelling the sub-continent on a motorbike some years ago and thought at the time I would not want to cycle here after seeing a cyclist who had been knocked over and killed by a driver. I seem to have forgotton my own advice but will listen to yours.

**ilesmark** · #4 24 Oct 2011

This is what it's like
Clockwork Orange Hogs of the Road, Real Harashoo - YouTube

Substitute the Durango 95 with a Tata / Ashok Leyland and this is driving on Indian roads as seen from a truck cab

**mark manley** · #5 24 Oct 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilesmark

This is what it's like
Clockwork Orange Hogs of the Road, Real Harashoo - YouTube

Substitute the Durango 95 with a Tata / Ashok Leyland and this is driving on Indian roads as seen from a truck cab

And turn out or break some or all of the lights